"And I am very sorry and hope everybody will forgive me, and I will try to do better hereafter," continued Eben, without regarding the interruption. "Flossy, you were quite right in saying that I ought to do better. I don't make any excuses for myself, but if anybody is good enough to make them for me, I shall not be too proud to accept them."
"That's right, Eben, and spoken like a Christian. Come, now! Let us all kiss goodnight and go to bed."
Flora's father was wont to say that Flora, when she gave her mind to it, could be the best child and the naughtiest child he ever saw in his life. The naughty fit was on now. To do her justice, her temper was partly hysterical and the result of over-fatigue. She did not refuse Eben's proffered kiss, but when he whispered something in her ear, she answered aloud:
"I don't care much for displays and protestations, Eben; I like deeds better than words, and I don't think much of a religion that is all talk, as yours seems to be."
Flora did not say these words because she believed them, but because she knew that they would hurt Eben more than anything else she could say. She was wretched herself, and she felt a desire to make others so as well, and in her perversity, she was more vexed with her brother for owning himself in the wrong, than if he had justified himself through all. It was one of her old "moods," which had become very rare of late, and Eben knew that the best way to meet it was to let her alone till it went away. He took an opportunity of whispering to Mary:
"Don't say anything to her. She will come round best alone."
Mary nodded in token of intelligence. Unluckily, Flora saw both the look and the nod.
"I wish—" she began, when her mother checked her:
"Flora, don't you say another word to-night! Now, mind me! Not another word! You ain't yourself, and you don't half know what you do say, but, mind! I won't have another word said about this matter."
Flora obeyed, and went to bed without speaking another word.